Four men charged in Thursday robberies in Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES — Police arrested four men suspected in a pair of robberies and an assault with a machete Thursday evening, according to a Las Cruces Police Department news release.

William Gonzalez-Garcia, 24, Andres R. Vargas, 22, Brandon Angel Salcido, 20, and 19-year-old Albert Carabajal were charged with two counts each of robbery, three counts of conspiracy and one count each of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

About 7:30 p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the 1400 block of Wyoming Avenue where three or four men allegedly assaulted a 32-year-old man who was walking home from a store. The victim told police that the men exited an Oldsmobile Bravada, attacked him, and took a small amount of cash and his cell phone.

A short while later a 17-year-old boy, who was doing his homework in Candlelight Park just off Hadley Avenue, was approached by four young men also in an Oldsmobile Bravada. The men reportedly took the 17-year-old's backpack, and punched and kicked the boy before leaving.

Fortunately for police, one of the victims spotted the license plate of the fleeing Bravada and officers were able to locate the vehicle in the 700 block of Fir Avenue. The suspects were arrested and property stolen during the robberies was recovered inside the Bravada.

The victims were not seriously injured during the assaults.

Gonzalez-Garcia, Vargas, Salcido and Carabajal were booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center with bonds set at $10,000 each.